Adding water to 1 day-old dough
Hello all,
I am very new to baking and was hoping someone could answer a question I have. Up to now, I have made dough by hand, but, the other day, I cut my thumb quite badly and, not wanting the kneading process to re-open the wound, I decided to dump all the ingredients in the food processor. It brought the dough together ok, but seemed to need a lot less water to do so. I went with it, let the dough rise and then refrigerated it for use the next day.
Now that I've come to use it, it seems very dry indeed and has almost developed a 'crust'. Is it ok to add water at this stage? Is there a best way to do it? Also, when refridgerating dough, is it best to use an airtight container? At present, I simply leave the dough ball in the mixing bowl and place a plate over the top.
Thank you in advance!
K~
Might want to add a wrung out wet towel between if the plate sits a little wobbly.
Is it safe to add water at this stage? No problem. Just drop it into water and let it float for a while to soften the crust. Folding the slippery thing is not a one handed job unless perhaps you do this in a large bowl in the sink and then tip the bowl to drain the water, folding the dough in the bowl to work in the water into the slippery mass. Dig in and squish with your fingers. When the dough comes together the dough should pretty much clean off your hand.
(Floating bread dough is a fun thing to do and really cracks folks up. The first time you do it is like it feels so crazy. It's an old way of retarding in cold river water if you look it up. When the dough would float a certain way, it was removed from the water and baked.)
One handed: If dough is really firm it may need cutting up (try a big scissors) into pieces to moisten. Transfer just the wet pieces to the food processor and use a bar not a blade to mix in the moisture with little effort, pausing, to check for consistency. (a pinch of flour may help clean the bowl) Turn the dough out and fold instead of knead with one hand. Continue to shape.
Hope your thumb heals quickly. You might want to get it stitched or use some butterfly tapes to keep the skin together. Butterfly tapes are great and you can make them yourself with adhesive tape. Then bandage over them and wear a glove. :)
What an informative reply! Thank you! Great idea about the butterfly tapes. My thumb is healing well now, but it's good to have that little tidbit in my ansenal. It's also good to know that my dough is not lost! :-D
Thanks again.